Just Installed Headers NOW ENGINE LIGHT ON!!! NEED Help
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Just Installed Headers NOW ENGINE LIGHT ON!!! NEED Help
Hi All,
I just got some Kooks headers put on my c6 the other day. I also have a K&N air charger and Corsa Exhaust that were put in a little while back. After driving the car for about 2 days the check engine light came on. My mechanic said it might since the rear O2 senor is registering more hot air flow from the headers. The Car runs and sounds great, but I am kind of concerned about the light. What do I need to do to get it off? Has anyone else had this problem? I was told if I flash the computer that will reset everything or I need to get it professional tuned or buy a handheld. I think since the light is on it won't pass emmisions. Also will the car be damaged if I continued to drive it with the light on?
Any help would be appreciated
Ryan
I just got some Kooks headers put on my c6 the other day. I also have a K&N air charger and Corsa Exhaust that were put in a little while back. After driving the car for about 2 days the check engine light came on. My mechanic said it might since the rear O2 senor is registering more hot air flow from the headers. The Car runs and sounds great, but I am kind of concerned about the light. What do I need to do to get it off? Has anyone else had this problem? I was told if I flash the computer that will reset everything or I need to get it professional tuned or buy a handheld. I think since the light is on it won't pass emmisions. Also will the car be damaged if I continued to drive it with the light on?
Any help would be appreciated
Ryan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 10
From: Montrose Colorado
Mine did the same thing, if I remember it was code P420 & P430 rear 02 sensors. I had em turned off when I had the car tuned. If you clear em they just come back in a few days, your other choice is to install 02 simulaters.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
Likes: 6
From: Montreal Qc
To turn it off you need a "CAN enabled" code reader. Many stores such as AutoZone will read the codes and then erase them for you, not that it will help as it will likely return.
Yes, almost everyone who has installed headers on their C6.
I am not sure if you really "need" a tune, it would be beneficial but maybe not completely needed. However a tuner will turn "off" the test(s) that are causing the codes to turn on the CEL.
I'm not sure where you live, but I think in many places just having headers you may not pass emissions, light or no light.
No the car will be fine, however if another problem arises that you should be aware of that would normally turn on the CEL to advise you, then you wouldn't know about the new problem because the light will already be on.
Hope this helps?
Yes, almost everyone who has installed headers on their C6.
I'm not sure where you live, but I think in many places just having headers you may not pass emissions, light or no light.
Hope this helps?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,281
Likes: 892
From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
All I can tell you is what I've read. Others more knowlegdeable will chime in. Your light is probably because of the extra airflow through the motor (that in itself is a good thing) which made your car too lean. The car has had to add too much correction to the fuel tables to compensate and threw a trouble code. It makes more sense to have it tuned. That would be a real fix and would allow your engine to benefit from the extra air and make even more HP.
Turning off the O2 sensors or even adding O2 simulators is just a bandaid.
Turning off the O2 sensors or even adding O2 simulators is just a bandaid.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
I figured the best bet is to get it tuned in order to get the light off. Are handhelds cool for this? I saw SLP has a modified Diablo tuner that tunes cars with long tube headers and high flow cats. Has anyone ever used one out there?
http://www.slponline.com/view_product.asp?P=27006T
It is funny you say you do not need it tuned. When I spoke to kooks they pretty much said the same thing it only will increase HP by 2-4 rwhp anyway with a tune. I just wanted to make sure I do not do damage to the car since the light is on. Car is driving great now really opened it up some.
http://www.slponline.com/view_product.asp?P=27006T
It is funny you say you do not need it tuned. When I spoke to kooks they pretty much said the same thing it only will increase HP by 2-4 rwhp anyway with a tune. I just wanted to make sure I do not do damage to the car since the light is on. Car is driving great now really opened it up some.
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 514
Likes: 31
From: Corinth, TX
I figured the best bet is to get it tuned in order to get the light off. Are handhelds cool for this? I saw SLP has a modified Diablo tuner that tunes cars with long tube headers and high flow cats. Has anyone ever used one out there?
http://www.slponline.com/view_product.asp?P=27006T
It is funny you say you do not need it tuned. When I spoke to kooks they pretty much said the same thing it only will increase HP by 2-4 rwhp anyway with a tune. I just wanted to make sure I do not do damage to the car since the light is on. Car is driving great now really opened it up some.
http://www.slponline.com/view_product.asp?P=27006T
It is funny you say you do not need it tuned. When I spoke to kooks they pretty much said the same thing it only will increase HP by 2-4 rwhp anyway with a tune. I just wanted to make sure I do not do damage to the car since the light is on. Car is driving great now really opened it up some.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
You needa proper tune for 1/2 the gains you would get from any header. The car is running lean in closed loop. It can only compensate for up to +24% lean and then it trips the light. When you tune DO NOT bypass the codes for the rear O2's. A proper tune will prevent the CEL. I have tuned countless cars and never once turned off those codes.
You cant get a proper tune with a modded car from a predator. You need a custom tune.
You cant get a proper tune with a modded car from a predator. You need a custom tune.
